Black Tea

A classic Dian Hong sun-dried black tea compressed in a round cake. The result: a highly fragrant and sweet tea with the thick and full texture you can expect from leaves of the Yiwu region. Learn More

What is black tea?

Black tea is such a popular drink world wide, but not everyone knowns how it differs from other types of tea. In fact, all teas are made from leaves harvested from trees or bushes of the Camellia Sinenses plant family. The difference lies in how teas are processed.

To produce black tea, the leaves undergo more oxidation when compared to white, green, and oolong teas. This not only results in darker tea leaves, but also a stronger and more intense taste.

Black or red tea?

In China, black tea is also known as ‘red tea’ or ‘hong cha’ (红茶) in Chinese. This is because the leaves brew a dark red colour cup of tea liquor.

Buy Chinese black teas online

Popular Chinese black teas include the Lapsang Souchong and Jin Jun Mei from Fujian, the Keemun from Anhui as well as Yunnan’s Dian Hong black teas. Our team have pre-curated the best loose leaf black teas from China that are convenient to order in our store.

Black tea health benefits

Many people worry that indulging in their craving for black tea might make them lose out on green teas’ numerous health benefits, but scientific studies recently find out that drinking black teas actually has its own unique heath benefits.

A long-term study by the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment found a correlation between regular consumption of black tea and reduced risk of stroke. Researchers looked at data from a study examining the health benefits of foods that are high in flavonoids - phytonutrients with antioxidant benefits. While some of the flavonoids were obtained from fruits and vegetables, 70% came from black tea.

Caffeine: one cup of brewed black tea contains about 43 mg of caffeine, while coffee has 150 - 200 mg per cup. Black tea is a perfect alternative for people who are sensitive to the adverse effects of caffeine in coffee. Researchers find that the L-theanine in black tea can interact with caffeine, allowing a smaller dose of caffeine to have a stronger effect in terms of boosting concentration and alertness. Therefore, black tea is a perfect energy drink for in the morning. Though black tea can be drunk at any time of the day, it’s not suggested two hours before bed, immediately after drinking alcohol, or when hungry.

Diet & weight loss: Drink this beverage without sugar, and it will give you a low-calorie energy lift that may help you increase your physical activity and reduce weight. However, to achieve the best effects, a balanced diet is recommended along with regular consumption of black tea.

Black tea side effects: The negative effects of this type of tea is mainly related to caffeine. If you consume too much black tea, it could case headache, vomiting or diarrhoea. What’s too much, depending on the individual. We suggest to start with 3 cups a day en increase when you don’t experience any side effects.